EDIBLE: The appetizing Monterey County stories keep coming.

Thank Goddess Al Gore invented the internet. Because 1,400 words are never enough.

That’s the approximate amount of text that occupies this page every week. The amount of food-and-drink news happening in Monterey County knows no such limit.

Fortunately the web can accommodate the big smorgasbord, which proves critical in weeks like the one gone by, with a half dozen big stories hitting in a fast few days. Here’s the (very) skinny on each. For more on these stories (and more stories) visit the blog, www.mcweekly.com/edible, and follow @MontereyMCA.

1. In-N-Out deepens secret menu.

In-N-Out has long amplified its appeal with stylish “secret” menu items that include animal-style burgers, Neapolitan shakes and “grilled” cheese sandwiches.

When word circulated that Seaside’s new In-N-Out was introducing a site-specific special enhancement, I visited the Del Monte Boulevard spot to see if the rumor was true.

That came from @InNOutSeaside’s Twitter feed, which appears to be citizen-run by a knucklehead, maybe a CSU Monterey Bay student, who was pushing for a secret item awkwardly named “Lotta Otter.” He or she fielded a poll, reporting people participating wanted that code to translate to pepper jack cheese (over roasted seaweed and Sriracha).

Friendly and informative Jeremy, himself an eight-year In-N-Out veteran employee brought in for the opening month, looked at me like I had animal-style fries on my face when I said, “Lotta otter hamburger, please.”

So I asked him the best way to gather accurate intel on secret-menu items; he said, talk to seasoned employees like him. Some of his favorite tweaks: whole grilled onions (instead of diced), chopped cascabellas peppers (aka “chilies”), a mustard-fried burger (which comes with animal-style treatment), salt-free patties (typically for dogs) and ordering a burger medium rare. Other items appear on the blog.

2. Local wine lovers rejoice.

Two of the best local wine events all year happen on successive Saturdays in May, and both sell out, hence the heads up.

First up is the Monterey County Vintners & Growers’ flagship showcase, the annual Winemakers Celebration ($75, 375-9400), now in its 24th year, noon-5pm Saturday, May 7, on Dolores and Seventh in Carmel. The closed-street setting has been a hit since it was instituted a couple of years back, and this year’s enjoys newly expanded space.

Forty of the county’s 56 or so wineries are members of MCVGA and will appear to pour. A powerhouse group of restaurants joins in: Affina, Basil, la Balena and il Tegamino lead more than a dozen.

Also on the grape vine horizon: Santa Lucia Highlands’ annual gala tasting ($95, 408-205-1516) 1-4pm Saturday, May 14, at Mer Soleil Winery’s huge barrel room (1290 River Road, Salinas).

The lineup is similarly massive, with 45 wineries pouring limited release and other highly allocated wines to honor the appellation’s loyal wine lovers. The food follows a “locavore” theme with Soerke Peters (Basil), Cal Stamenov (Lucia), Tim Wood (Carmel Valley Ranch), Brad Briske (la Balena), James Waller (Monterey Plaza), Shiho Fukishima (Ocean Sushi),Todd Fisher (Tarpy’s), Michael Burke (Star Market), Katie Shea (Bar Cart Cocktail Company) and James Anderson (Poke Lab).

3. A revolutionary chef resigns.

John Cox, the same guy behind the rattlesnake confit and authentic acorn bread, is leaving Sierra Mar at Post Ranch for a six-month wander that will include quality time with his aging grandpa and trips to Alaska, Mexico and China.

“I enjoy thinking outside of the box and creating,” he says. “That’s what the sabbatical is about: To get out there and get inspired and have some adventures I can’t fit into paid time off.”

Post-trip, he doesn’t plan on leaving, but he does plan on his next project being as a chef-owner or chef-partner.

4. A great beer hall gets better.

Alvarado Street Brewery’s (655-BEER) opened its beer garden for its first full day April 15 at 426 Alvarado St. The broad and stylish patio abuts Calle Principal in the back of the working brewery-restaurant. Six burly wood picnic tables, cushiony lounge chairs, small gas fire pits and couches occupy the space, along with a bar of cement and corrugated tin. Heat lamps hang over much of the area, and smart lighting makes it attractive at night too.

The rotating house brews ($5-$6) are available on tap out back with a scaled-down food menu that includes calamari ($12), garlic fries ($6), chicken wings ($10) and the Alvarado burger ($14).

5. Super organic advice surfaces.

While apples long led the list of The Dirty Dozen, they’ve been displaced at the number-one slot by conventionally grown strawberries. The list is the main part of the nonprofitEnvironmental Working Group’s Shopper’s Guide to Pesticides in Produce. It ranks the pesticide contamination on 48 popular fruits and vegetables, working from the results of more than 35,200 samples tested by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Food and Drug Administration. The Clean Fifteen, meanwhile, resist pollution from pesticides much more effectively. Get those, yup, on the blog.

EWG Senior Analyst Sonya Lunder lays it out. “Fruits and vegetables are important for your health,” she says. “But for those on the Dirty Dozen, we recommend buying the organic versions if you want to avoid pesticides on your food.”

~QUICKBITES ~

• Austin Harlow Winery is the area’s newest, and part of a line called Mid-Life Crisis Wines. More details on the blog.
• The city of Monterey’s City Council approved long-term mobile vending. In English, that means food trucks are OK at 10 spots for more than an hour. Those spots include Del Monte along Window on the Bay and Ryan Ranch Office Park.
• Construction for the Marina restaurants at The Dunes are underway; developer Scott Negri says he recently signed a lease with cult hit Smashburger out of Denver. More on the blog.
• De Tierra Vineyards (229-2105) does Earth Day 4-8pm Saturday, April 23, at Russell Vineyard (503 Corral de Tierra Road) with a lady bug release, picnic games, its newest wines (including its organic Merlot and Cab) and snacks from Chef Soerke Peters of Basil.
• Heller Estate (659-6226) celebrates both Earth Day and 20 years of pesticide-free grape growing with a free noon-4pm Friday, April 22, tasting room open house complete with tastings and organic bites. (RSVP to 659-6226 requested.)
• Sonny Petersson is leaving his GM post at Portola Hotel (647-4434) to move the fam back to Sweden. Brian Hein, last GM at Sardine Factory, takes his slot.
• Lonely Mountain Farm pop-up dinner happens 6pm Friday, April 22, at Happy Girl Kitchen ($55, 373-GIRL) with Chef Matt Millea doing vegetarian ambrosia.
• After 10 months of rehab following two floods from a neighbor above, Bistro Beaujolais (624-5600) is at full strength in the Carmel Plaza shopping center.
• The local American Institute of Wine & Food hosts Bubbles of the World ($125) 4-7pm Saturday, April 30, at a swanky private home provided by Alain Pinel Realtors. Anticipate fancy sparklings hand-picked by Master Sommelier Catherine Fallis, hourly sabering, live music worldly tapas (622-9124).
• TusCA at Hyatt Regency Monterey (372-1234) and Spa has quietly promoted Ross Kilkenny to the position of chef de cuisine, fresh off representing Monterey in a regional Hyatt cooking competition and winning.
• Orson Welles: “Ask not what you can do for your country. Ask what’s for lunch.”